Each tile holds a piece of pipe. Click a tile to turn it a quarter turn, and connect every pipe to the water source in the middle so the whole grid forms one network with no open ends. Choose a 5×5 warm-up up to a 15×15 expert grid, or turn on wrap mode where pipes run off one edge and come back on the other.
Last updated:
Time0:00
Connected0/0
Leaks0
Turns0
Best–
Network connected!
connected to the source not connected Shift+click or long-press locks a tile you are sure about.
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How to use the Pipes Puzzle
Pick a grid size and, if you like a challenge, turn on wrap mode. A new puzzle is generated right away.
Click or tap a tile to rotate it 90° clockwise. Right-click turns it back. Blue pipes are already connected to the source in the middle.
Start with the easy tiles. Pipe ends (tiles with one opening) can never point at each other, and tiles on the border can't point off the board (unless wrap mode is on).
Lock tiles you are certain about with Shift+click or a long-press, so you don't turn them by accident.
Finish when every tile is blue and the Leaks counter shows 0. Your time is saved as a best for that size.
Solving tips for the pipes puzzle
Corners first. In normal mode a corner tile can only point into the board. A corner elbow has exactly one correct rotation, and a corner dead end has two.
Edges next. A T-junction on the border must have its flat side against the edge. A straight pipe on the border must run along the edge.
Dead ends never face each other. Two dead ends pointing at each other would form a closed pair that can't reach the source.
No loops. Every puzzle is a tree, so if a rotation would close a loop of pipes, it is wrong.
Watch the blue. Pipes turn blue as they join the source. Grow the blue network outwards and use the Leaks counter to spot open ends.
Lock as you go. Locking certain tiles turns the big grids from guesswork into a chain of small deductions.
Tile types
Tile
Openings
Different rotations
Hint
Dead end (terminal)
1
4
Shown with a round end; the outer tips of the network
Straight
2 (opposite)
2
Only horizontal or vertical, so it's quick to decide
Elbow
2 (adjacent)
4
Turns the network; common in corners
T-junction
3
4
Its closed side often faces an edge or a dead end
Source
1 – 3
4
The dark blue tank in the middle where the water starts
Grid sizes
Grid
Tiles
Good for
5 × 5
25
Learning the rules in under a minute
7 × 7
49
A quick casual game
9 × 9
81
A real puzzle with long chains of deductions
11 × 11
121
Advanced players
13 × 13
169
Long sessions
15 × 15
225
Expert, especially with wrap mode on
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the pipes puzzle?
The board is a grid of tiles, and each tile holds a straight pipe, an elbow, a T-junction or a dead end. Rotate the tiles until every pipe is connected into one network that includes the water source, and no pipe end points at a wall or at a tile without a matching opening. You can only rotate tiles, not move them.
What counts as a leak?
A leak is any pipe opening that does not meet a matching opening on the neighboring tile, including openings that point off the edge of the board in normal mode. The puzzle is solved when there are 0 leaks and every tile is connected to the source.
What is wrap mode?
In wrap mode the left edge connects to the right edge and the top edge connects to the bottom, like a torus. A pipe leaving the board on one side continues on the opposite side. This removes the border clues, so wrap puzzles are noticeably harder.
Does every puzzle have a solution?
Yes. Each puzzle starts as a random spanning tree, a network that connects every tile without loops, and only then are the tiles rotated at random. Rotating them back always works, and any other arrangement with no leaks that connects every tile is accepted too.
Is there a strategy for solving pipes puzzles?
Work from the edges and corners in normal mode, because their options are limited. Two dead ends next to each other can't face each other, or they would form a closed pair cut off from the rest. Since the network has no loops, any rotation that would close a loop is also wrong. Lock each tile once you are sure.
How is my time measured?
The timer starts at your first rotation and stops when the network is complete. It pauses while the browser tab is hidden. Best times are stored in your browser, separately for each grid size with and without wrap mode.
Is this the same as the Net or NetWalk puzzle?
Yes, it follows the same idea as the classic rotate-the-tiles network puzzles often called Net, NetWalk or Pipes. All puzzles here are generated fresh in your browser.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.